Not many days now 'til Santa's here!!

Phew - it sure is hot!! Am feeling rather like a grease spot!!
We had our patchwork Christmas dinner today, which was most enjoyable. Before that, I went to Timaru to the Radiology Dept to get a Ultra Sound on my old hip. The Xray I had on Tuesday was just fine, but the Surgeon is wondering if the muscle has pulled away, as it is held by a couple of stitches. Oh, the joys of getting older!! The motto of the story is when you get to 71, and have just had a hip replacement, DON"T sit on the floor to do your work! The after effects can be rather painful!!

We had a lovely day last Friday as a few of my special friends got together, of course to do card making. I have a nice photo of them - hope they don't mind me showing it to you all.
Well, I can't put up all I have been doing lately, as far as card making goes, as it is still very secretive. Kaisercraft have me fully employed but I can see a little light at the end of the tunnel now. Mind you I really do enjoy working with all their lovely new collections! I'm not complaining at all!
I will put up another couple of orders I have done though.

A very simple card made for a Golden Wedding. I use this 3D rose quite a lot and it is always appreciated.

This card is made for a wedding that we have been invited to tomorrow. I do hope they like it and that the day is wonderful for them. They are a lovely Fijian- Indian couple, so we are looking forward to that. Just hope it is a little cooler though - not cold just cooler!!
Sounds as though it is tea time by the noises coming from the kitchen.
With many blessings to you all, thank you for checking this out.

Much love, Betsy xx

A teaser.

Hello to all my blogging friends. Just a quick post tonight as I have had a busy day at Artfull Crafts in Timaru. It has been rather an effort today as I have a very sore hip and found it quite a job getting round. A doctor's visit in the morning to see what I have done to it. It is my new one too!!
Anyway, I have been fully occupied lately working on some of Kaisercraft's new year collections. You're sure going to love them! I can't really show you what I have done, as that would be spoiling the fun but I will give you a little teaser. Here are just two peeps.

Of course, those that know me will be saying, "that's her colours"!! You'll all be surprised though.
 I will also include a card I made for an order, using my grand calibur. The roses were made using the Tim Holtz tattered florals die - I do enjoy making these roses. They were sponged with sepia ink then sprayed with glimmer mist.

Actually, I have also done the new card temptations kit for December. Took it in to Liz today. Know you will all enjoy doing this kit as much as I have.
I was supposed to be going down to Cromwell, to my daughters, for the weekend but looks as though I will not be moving far. She is organising a Razzle, Dazzle and Bling fashion show as a fund raiser for pre- school. It should be a lot of fun - when Jo does something she puts her all into it!

Must go and find somewhere comfy, may you all know God's blessing.

Betsy xx

A great weekend

Whew!! What a great weekend was had by all. It has been very busy altogether but we have enjoyed it. The weather didn't perform as it should have, there was plenty of mud underfoot, but at least it did not keep raining. This afternoon it  has been back to it's usual - lovely and warm.I'm looking forward to a few days off, just to catch my breath.  Think I'm getting a bit old for all this excitement. It's really not that far 'til we will have to be getting into Christmas mode!
I have decided to put up the three quillts I had displayed in the exhibition. Hope you enjoy.

I made this quilt for my youngest little grandson, Harvey. His bedroom is all done out as a pirate ship so it does rather suit the theme. The favourite fabric in it is the one with the flames, so he says. He is a delightful four, but tells me he is no longer four but four and three quarters, thank you Nanna!!

This second one was made for my lovely daughter-in-law and of course my son. It does look amazing in their bedroom as I have tried to co-ordinate the colours to match the wallpapers and drapes.They have a new house on the farm so I hope they enjoy it. I have made one for the three kids so I think Michelle was feeling a bit neglected, not having one on her bed. She's up with the play now!

I fell in love with this pattern some time back and just had to make it for, guess who! Me!! Mind you ,I haven't a clue where I'm going to hang it. There is certainly no wall space in our little house, I tell everyone it will hang in the garage along with the other ones I have done- they usually look at me rather funny!! But I do have a very nice garage! Anyway, it is a wallhanging designed be the famous McKenna Ryan, all patchworkers will know who I am referring to. It really was fun to do, although it took me some time. Maybe Betty, at our patchwork shop here in Geraldine, will rescue it, as she has done with another two of my quilts.

For some reason, unbeknown to me, the wrong date comes up on the top of the blog. It is actually Sunday evening and I do feel it is my bedtime. Will have to get Graham and Liz to come out and give me some more computer tutition - don't know what I would do without them. Anyway, feel it's a minor complication when taken overall.

Have a great week, with special blessings to you all,

Betsy. xx

Home Again

Hello  to all my blogging friends on this lovely Spring day. It is great to be home again, even though we had a wonderful time with our families. We had a couple of nights at Cromwell, with our daughter ( her husband is an oil rig man, hence he was away ) on the way down South, then we took the two little people with us down to the farm.They always enjoy the time spent with their cousins on the farm and of course, doing all the farm activities. I'm sure their father's hair would have stood on end, many a time, if he'd seen what they got up to. Anyway they're safely back home and all's well!
I will put up three cards that I made for special orders before I went away. At the moment I am working on projects for Kaisercraft. Boy, you're all going to love these new collections! Their papers are just getting better and better - I love them all!! Of course, I haven't got a paper addiction - it's good you can't see into my workroom!!

This card was made for a young lady who is just turning 15 and apparently loves fashion. DCWV  Lemon Flower papers were used ( I love them ), the flowers were made with Tim Holtz Rosettes Dies ( it is so easy to use and I think the fowers are so effective), and Martha Stewart Border punch.

Another card for Sarah who enjoys playing the Saxaphone. I made this card using the Kaisercraft Velvet Ensemble collection - even the saxaphone was part of this paper. What would we do without Spellbinders dies for cutting out our shapes?

This last card was made for a special patchwork friend who is moving away from the area. And Mary, we are sorry you are leaving us! Kaisercraft Bonjour range was used, Tim Holtz birdcage die and Kaiser flowers.I glimmer misted both the birdcage and the bird after stamping it with a script stamp- the bird that is!
We have a very big weekend ahead of us this coming weekend as it is the Geraldine Arts and Plants Festival.Our little town really does come to life, there is so much going on! As well as all the other activities round the town the patchwork group have a big exhibition of all the quilts made this year - it is absolutely stunning to see them all. I have three that I have made so will show them later on the blog. I think one of the Christchurch families are coming down to stay so we will enjoy that - it's great for Darby and Joan to have some life around the place!!
Must stop waffling and get back to work,
God bless you all, thanks for checking this out, love your comments.
Betsy, XX

Our Big Trip and a card.

Hello all - I don't know if I am completely back to earth yet but am trying my best. A good sleep-in helped a bit this morning!! We did have a wonderful time in Melbourne, doing all the girly things ( well I tagged along ) Lowri and Liz did the girly things, I carried the bags!! Liz drove (with the help of the GPS), Lowri navigated, and I sat in the back seat and prayed!! All turned out well, not too many detours! Then it was down to Geelong where Kaisercraft put on a tremendous day for us all. The team are simply wonderful, gave us the red carpet treatment and it was so nice to meet them all. I for one, didn't realise just what a big concern Kaisercraft is, so was  favourably impressed after having had a tour of the factory and the outlet store. Thanks so much to all you special people.
I will include a few photos that I took, but I'm afraid I forgot I had a camera most of the time. Just too busy checking on everything!!

This was taken at breakfast so we all look a bit sleepy!

Liz and I out on the town.

Lowri, Al, Liz and Shirl, these girls are so lovely.

Outside Kaisercraft factory having lunch. It was a beatiful day as you can see. The two girls in the foreground are the designers / artists who design all the lovely collections, Claire and Jess. They even gave us an insight into how they work. Claire gets married today so we wish her well, hope her day goes of beautifully and we're looking forward to some photos.
Well, a great time was had by all but now must get back to normal living! I did come home with a good number of next year's collections to play with, so am looking forward to that. Must say you are all going to be impressed with the new ranges!

This is a card I have just made for a 60th wedding anniversary, for a friend. Spellbinders labels and No16 die was used, Kaiser flowers, and seam binding which has been coloured with glimmermist. Love this stuff also the seam binding. It bows so lovely using my bow-tie.
We are heading down South this week to see our south families so am really looking forward to that, even though the kids will be back at school. Don't know when I will be blogging again but 'til I do, may you all know God's blessing and I better say, may the All Blacks win. That's especially for Liz!!

Betsy.

We're Off to Oz

Hi ho, hi ho, hi ho it's off to Oz we go. We must admit we're pretty excited. It will be fun to catch up with the Australian girls again and of course visit the Melbourne scrap shops. Liz has them all sussed out and she has a GPS, so as long as it is reliable we should be fine. Here's hoping!!
Thanks everyone for your good wishes, that includes you Jocelyn.

I will put a couple of cards up just to show I haven't been altogether side-tracked. The orders seem to be still coming in. Must  say I do love doing cards for special orders and personalizing them.

This card was made with one of the new, new collections that are coming out from Kaisercraft. It is just to wet your appitite - the papers are just stunning! Martha Stewart punch, Spellbinders labels die, and Kaisercraft flowers were used. I glimmermisted the main flower after I put it together. It is another 51/4" square card which I have been making more of lately.

Again using the same papers - afraid I have to keep you in suspence!! By now, you will no doubt know I love the Tilda stamps. I use my copics to colour them. Isn't that Spellbinders No 16 die lovely? Have you all noticed the Artfull Crafts have all Sellbinders dies, both old and new, on special at the moment. You can't have too many of these wonderful dies!!

Must away and pack my bag.
With blessings to you all,
Betsy

Off to Australia

Good evening everyone. Well, I'm so excited as Liz, Lowri and I are heading over to Aus to the Kaisercraft Party - can you see me grinning! We are flying over on Friday next, to Melbourne, staying a few nights there then heading down to Geelong where Kaisercraft is having the big event. It will be lovely, to not only catch up with the girls I met at SENZ but to meet others, I have not as yet met. Shirl and Lisa it will be great to finally meet you both - looking forward to that.

Had better stop waffling and show you a couple of cards.
Here is a card I made for my lovely 13year old grand-daughter, Ella. Martha Stewart punch was used for the border, I cut the name out using my  Cuttlebug Alphabet, Harmony. Before cutting it out I adhered the card to Jac paper so that it had the adhesive already on which made it easier to attach to the card. The image was a 3D. Of course, it was cut out using my Grand Calibur with a Labels 1 die. The roses I made the Marianne rose die and the ribbon was tied using my bow- tie.

This next card is called a petal card. Spellbinders Lotus die was used, Kaisercraft paper flowers crunched up and glimmer misted and the small flowers are also Kaisercraft. I really do love that seam binding, so soft and vintagey. Using glimmer mist you can colour it almost any colour you want. I have versamarked the flourish then after stamping, have chalked over it. Lastly, sponged round all edges with sepia ink to give it an aged look.

Well, another day tomorrow, my patchwork day and we are going to a friend's home out past Pleasant Point. We always enjoy driving out to Denise's place and the view is absolutely stunning. I am just starting another wallhanging - not sure where I'll hang this one but it is always fun beginning a new project.

May God bless you all my blogging friends,
A rather excited Betsy.